YES!! It gives me great pleasure to salute President Obama on this one:

[Jackpine Radical]

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_OBAMA_HIGH_SPEED_RAIL?SITE=NCJAC&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT
As I have said many times, my seemingly unrelenting criticism of the President's actions in recent months has always been aimed at pushing him toward what I consider to be the right track. Here is my idea of "the right track," and I hope it is only the first in a series of moves to put Americans to work building a 21st-century infrastructure for our children.

Jan 27, 6:38 AM EST

Obama to announce high-speed rail plan post-speech

By JULIE PACE
Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) -- A day after delivering a State of the Union address aimed at showing recession-weary Americans he understands their struggles, President Barack Obama intends to award $8 billion in stimulus funds to develop high-speed rail corridors and sell the program as a jobs creator.

Obama and Vice President Joe Biden plan to announce grants for 13 major corridors during a town hall meeting in Tampa, Fla., Thursday, the president's first public appearance following his speech to the nation. It's an attempt by the White House to show that getting Americans back to work is the president's top priority and that he has a plan for how to do it.

The president's visit to the region means Florida's proposal for a high-speed line connecting Orlando and Tampa is likely to receive funding. California's proposal for an 800-mile-long rail line from Sacramento to San Diego and a nine-state proposal in the Midwest are also considered strong contenders.

The $8 billion in funding for high-speed trains and other passenger rail projects is part of the $787 billion recovery act. Besides the 13 corridors receiving grants, a White House official said several smaller awards will be made for improvements to existing rail lines. Overall, 31 states will receive funds.

[Captain Hilts]

1. Yes. Let's get Amtrak some dedicated track on the East Coast. nt

[nevergiveup]

2. These are the little things

that collectively in the end will have made a huge difference.

[patrice]

3. ***IF*** enough of the other "little things" don't just run out of whatever it takes to

put one foot in front of another.

It's obvious what that has to do with the young, but I'm also thinking about our Elders here, whose health care is being completely corporatized. "Death Panels here we come" - even more than there are now - and just at THE time when younger generations vitally and desperately need the humanization that only Elders can bring. "God" help us.

[nevergiveup]

4. Yeah, I agree

[Winterblues]

6. Yes I agree, I grew up with the saying "watch your pennies and the dollars will take care of themsel

:thumbsup:

[tavalon]

5. This is good

More of this please, President Obama.